Hobson's Alternative: Drama and music fill the summer season months at native theatres

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A strong and galvanizing apartheid-era drama at Rosebud and the summer season live performance collection at StoryBook will preserve the highlight on theatre all through the summer season.

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The Syringa Tree, written and first carried out by South African actor Pamela Gien in New York in 2001, is an typically shattering, however in the end uplifting have a look at apartheid in South Africa via the eyes of a white South African girl in Johannesburg. It follows Elizabeth from childhood to maturity.

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It’s a story of two households separated by racism however related by love. Elizabeth’s surrogate mom is her nanny Salamina, a Black girl. When Salamina has her personal little one, Elizabeth should assist conceal the lady from the authorities.

Rosebud creative director Morris Ertman calls The Syringa Tree “a charming story highlighting the enduring bonds of household love. It’s a play that’s proper at house on a Rosebud stage as a result of it explores themes of deep-abiding love and friendship, resisting a world divided and an enduring connection to position, all of which hearkens to the heartwarming message of discovering house.”

Alberta Theatre Initiatives produced The Syringa Tree in 2005 starring Meg Roe. It was so standard, it returned for an additional run three years later.

Rosebud’s The Syringa Tree stars Vancouver actor Katharine Venour, who grew up in Priddis and graduated from the College of Calgary. Within the early Nineteen Nineties, Venour starred in such Theatre Calgary exhibits as Summer time and Smoke, A Christmas Carol, and Amadeus, and was additionally an everyday with Theatre Junction in such exhibits as Past Remedy and Look Again in Anger when it had its house within the basement of the Jubilee Auditorium. Venour has spent greater than 20 years in Vancouver with acclaimed performances in such exhibits as Shadowlands, Wit, Agnes of God, St. Joan and My Title Is Asher Lev.

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Over the course of two hours in The Syringa Tree, Venour performs 23 characters of various ages and sexes.

It runs within the intimate Rosebud Studio Stage. Showtimes are Wednesdays via Saturdays from July 7 till Sept. 2 Tickets are $35. A dinner theatre bundle is accessible on Fridays and Saturdays, topic to availability. The present just isn’t beneficial for preteens. The Syringa Tree runs in tandem with Rosebud’s mainstage summer season present The Sound of Music, and there are particular mixture packages accessible.

For extra data and to e book tickets, go to rosebudtheatre.com or name 1-800-267-7553.

Broadway star Louise Pitre joined the StoryBook concert series last summer. Courtesy, Tim Nguyen
Broadway star Louise Pitre joined the StoryBook live performance collection final summer season. Courtesy, Tim Nguyen Picture by Tim Nguyen /Tim Nguyen Co.

STORYBOOK OFFERS SONGS FOR SUMMER NIGHTS

StoryBook Theatre’s third annual summer season live performance collection Singers @ Sundown will run within the Beddington Arts Centre on Fridays, July 14 via Aug. 11, at 7:30 p.m.

These 90-minute live shows will function rising artists from StoryBook’s previous season in addition to alumni artists resembling Cassie Doane, Sofia Aya Cristancho, Layne Labbe, Joel Schaefer and Dallas Hayes-Sparks. Every live performance has a selected theme.

July 14’s A Depraved Summer time Night time, is a tribute to composer Stephen Schwartz who wrote the runaway hit Broadway musical Depraved. The night may also function songs from his different exhibits together with Godspell, The Prince of Egypt, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas and Geppetto.

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On July 21, the highlight can be turned on Stephen Sondheim for A Little Summer time Night time Music. Broadway’s most prolific musical theatre composer, Sondheim’s exhibits embody Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Avenue, A Little Night time Music, Into the Woods, Firm, West Facet Story, Gypsy and A Humorous Factor Occurred on the Option to the Discussion board.

With Music & the Mouse on July 28, The Disney musicals will take centre stage with songs from Magnificence and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, Frozen, Mary Poppins, Newsies and Descendants.

Canadian musicals are the topic of Maple Syrup & Music. Search for songs from such Canadian hit musicals as Anne of Inexperienced Gables, Come From Away, The Drowsy Chaperone, Evil Lifeless, Billy Bishop Goes to Conflict and Ragtime.

August eleventh’s closing live performance, On Broadway Tonight, will function songs from high musicals at present operating on Broadway resembling Some Like It Scorching, Hadestown, Chicago, Humorous Woman, Hamilton, Moulin Rouge The Musical and The E book of Mormon.

There may be assigned seating for every live performance and tickets are $25 every. There’s a five-concert bundle for $100. Tickets and packages may be bought at storybooktheatre.org/singers2023.

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